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Four of Somerset's five MPs vote for gay marriage

FOUR of Somerset’s five MPs voted in favour of gay marriage during last night’s historic vote in the House of Commons.

The second reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill went through by a majority of 225 MPs, with 400 voting in favour and 175 against.

It will now face further Parliamentary scrutiny before it can become law.

LibDems Jeremy Browne (Taunton Deane), David Laws (Yeovil), David Heath (Somerton and Frome) and Tessa Munt (Wells) all voted for the bill.

Mr Browne said: “I believe people should have the freedom to love who they want and marry who they want.

“I don't see why extending this freedom to same sex marriages will undermine conventional marriages.

“I hope it will simply provide some more people with a greater degree of security and companionship if they decide to get married.

“There is a specific exemption for the Church of England, so same sex marriages will typically be performed in civic places such as register officers rather than churches.

“All social change can initially feel unsettling for some people, but this proposal is supported by all three party leaders and I do believe that in time it will come to be seen as being fairly uncontroversial.”

Mr Liddell-Grainger, who is on a Parliamentary delegation to Morocco, wrote on his blog: “I have pondered long and hard about this moral question and come to the conclusion that what is suggested in the bill is neither sensible nor workable.

“Some of my constituents have said - why not cancel the trip and vote on the bill instead? That course of action, I'm afraid, would have caused an international diplomatic furore and would have been seen as insulting to the Moroccan royal family.

“Trips like this take months to arrange. The timing of Parliamentary bills, however, is sprung on MPs at the last moment.

“However my absence at the vote certainly does not mean that I have changed my mind on the issue. If the bill proceeds past second reading there will be many opportunities to use my vote against it.”

What's next. The rights of a polygamist or bigamist to marry more than one person because THEY love more than one person? Marriage of individuals before 16 because THEY love each other? Pandora's box isn't just open, the lid has been torn from its hinges!

What's next. The rights of a polygamist or bigamist to marry more than one person because THEY love more than one person? Marriage of individuals before 16 because THEY love each other? Pandora's box isn't just open, the lid has been torn from its hinges!CosApp

What's next. The rights of a polygamist or bigamist to marry more than one person because THEY love more than one person? Marriage of individuals before 16 because THEY love each other? Pandora's box isn't just open, the lid has been torn from its hinges!

Score: 0

RobBW
6:58am Thu 7 Feb 13

CosApp wrote…

What's next. The rights of a polygamist or bigamist to marry more than one person because THEY love more than one person? Marriage of individuals before 16 because THEY love each other? Pandora's box isn't just open, the lid has been torn from its hinges!

Don't be so pathetic!

[quote][p][bold]CosApp[/bold] wrote:
What's next. The rights of a polygamist or bigamist to marry more than one person because THEY love more than one person? Marriage of individuals before 16 because THEY love each other? Pandora's box isn't just open, the lid has been torn from its hinges![/p][/quote]Don't be so pathetic!RobBW

CosApp wrote…

What's next. The rights of a polygamist or bigamist to marry more than one person because THEY love more than one person? Marriage of individuals before 16 because THEY love each other? Pandora's box isn't just open, the lid has been torn from its hinges!

Don't be so pathetic!

Score: 0

Fartypants
7:21am Thu 7 Feb 13

CosApp wrote…

What's next. The rights of a polygamist or bigamist to marry more than one person because THEY love more than one person? Marriage of individuals before 16 because THEY love each other? Pandora's box isn't just open, the lid has been torn from its hinges!

Ian didn't return to the UK because he didn't want to offend the Moroccan (or "Morocdan", as he mis-spelt it) Royal Family. By not participating the debate he's denied his constituents any voice (for or against) in the House. I'm pretty offended by that. And what about the 10% (on average) of his constituents who happen to be gay? Are they, in some way, less important than a jolly to sun-drenched Morocco at the tax-payers expense? How offensive!

[quote][p][bold]CosApp[/bold] wrote:
What's next. The rights of a polygamist or bigamist to marry more than one person because THEY love more than one person? Marriage of individuals before 16 because THEY love each other? Pandora's box isn't just open, the lid has been torn from its hinges![/p][/quote]Ian didn't return to the UK because he didn't want to offend the Moroccan (or "Morocdan", as he mis-spelt it) Royal Family. By not participating the debate he's denied his constituents any voice (for or against) in the House. I'm pretty offended by that. And what about the 10% (on average) of his constituents who happen to be gay? Are they, in some way, less important than a jolly to sun-drenched Morocco at the tax-payers expense? How offensive!Fartypants

CosApp wrote…

What's next. The rights of a polygamist or bigamist to marry more than one person because THEY love more than one person? Marriage of individuals before 16 because THEY love each other? Pandora's box isn't just open, the lid has been torn from its hinges!

Ian didn't return to the UK because he didn't want to offend the Moroccan (or "Morocdan", as he mis-spelt it) Royal Family. By not participating the debate he's denied his constituents any voice (for or against) in the House. I'm pretty offended by that. And what about the 10% (on average) of his constituents who happen to be gay? Are they, in some way, less important than a jolly to sun-drenched Morocco at the tax-payers expense? How offensive!

Score: 0

Fartypants
7:28am Thu 7 Feb 13

Oh and Ian, if you've already made up your mind and won't change it (as stated in your blog), why are you running a survey? So you can claim lipservice to the idea you're representing us? Why put marriage in inverted commas? Marriage is marriage. When are you going to be a proper representative of all of your constituency rather than your constituency party and the right wing clique of the Conservative party in London? Dear me, I miss Tom King. And I've never voted Comservative. That should tell you something!

Oh and Ian, if you've already made up your mind and won't change it (as stated in your blog), why are you running a survey? So you can claim lipservice to the idea you're representing us? Why put marriage in inverted commas? Marriage is marriage. When are you going to be a proper representative of all of your constituency rather than your constituency party and the right wing clique of the Conservative party in London? Dear me, I miss Tom King. And I've never voted Comservative. That should tell you something!Fartypants

Oh and Ian, if you've already made up your mind and won't change it (as stated in your blog), why are you running a survey? So you can claim lipservice to the idea you're representing us? Why put marriage in inverted commas? Marriage is marriage. When are you going to be a proper representative of all of your constituency rather than your constituency party and the right wing clique of the Conservative party in London? Dear me, I miss Tom King. And I've never voted Comservative. That should tell you something!

Score: 0

jimeee
10:11pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Next thing is they will want us to allow them to get divorced as well.

Next thing is they will want us to allow them to get divorced as well.jimeee

Next thing is they will want us to allow them to get divorced as well.

Score: 0

Bridgy old Boy
4:45pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Judging by the nonsense ILG comes out with on his blog just by opening his mouth in Moracco was more likely to cause "international furore" the King of Morocco would probably welcome his absence.

Judging by the nonsense ILG comes out with on his blog just by opening his mouth in Moracco was more likely to cause "international furore" the King of Morocco would probably welcome his absence.Bridgy old Boy

Judging by the nonsense ILG comes out with on his blog just by opening his mouth in Moracco was more likely to cause "international furore" the King of Morocco would probably welcome his absence.

Score: 0

swjoduk
8:27pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Bridgy old Boy wrote…

Judging by the nonsense ILG comes out with on his blog just by opening his mouth in Moracco was more likely to cause "international furore" the King of Morocco would probably welcome his absence.

haha, love it!

[quote][p][bold]Bridgy old Boy[/bold] wrote:
Judging by the nonsense ILG comes out with on his blog just by opening his mouth in Moracco was more likely to cause "international furore" the King of Morocco would probably welcome his absence.[/p][/quote]haha, love it!swjoduk

Bridgy old Boy wrote…

Judging by the nonsense ILG comes out with on his blog just by opening his mouth in Moracco was more likely to cause "international furore" the King of Morocco would probably welcome his absence.

haha, love it!

Score: 0

windswept and interesting
9:22pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Pity it was'nt a one way ticket for ILG.

Pity it was'nt a one way ticket for ILG.windswept and interesting

Pity it was'nt a one way ticket for ILG.

Score: 0

BaldCarl2
10:58am Sat 9 Feb 13

So, homphobic ILG was on an expenses paid trip to Morocco. Hard life eh?

So, homphobic ILG was on an expenses paid trip to Morocco. Hard life eh?BaldCarl2

So, homphobic ILG was on an expenses paid trip to Morocco. Hard life eh?

Score: 0

windswept and interesting
7:32pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Lets face it. The only gay men ILG is likely to meet are other MPS. There's no such thing as a gay farmer....is ther ?

Lets face it. The only gay men ILG is likely to meet are other MPS. There's no such thing as a gay farmer....is ther ?windswept and interesting

Lets face it. The only gay men ILG is likely to meet are other MPS. There's no such thing as a gay farmer....is ther ?

Score: 0

jimeee
5:30pm Mon 11 Feb 13

No wonder the Pope has handed his notice in.

No wonder the Pope has handed his notice in.jimeee

No wonder the Pope has handed his notice in.

Score: 0

Baldbloke
6:14pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Hooray! I've found a post with not one single misplaced capital letter!!!

Hooray! I've found a post with not one single misplaced capital letter!!!Baldbloke

Hooray! I've found a post with not one single misplaced capital letter!!!

Score: 0

windswept and interesting
7:21pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Baldbloke wrote…

Hooray! I've found a post with not one single misplaced capital letter!!!

Quick, lock the thread down and preserve it for future generations !

[quote][p][bold]Baldbloke[/bold] wrote:
Hooray! I've found a post with not one single misplaced capital letter!!![/p][/quote]Quick, lock the thread down and preserve it for future generations !windswept and interesting

Baldbloke wrote…

Hooray! I've found a post with not one single misplaced capital letter!!!

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